Trukee is an avalanche rescue dog at Heavenly Mountain. The video comes from Chris Child, who works ski patrol at Heavenly in the winter and wildfire management in the summer. Truckee, who hits the slopes with Chris to sniff out trapped avalanche victims and missing skiers and boarders apparently also loves getting in on the downhill action at work, when off duty, we assume.
Truckee and some of the other rescue dogs at Heavenly also apparently love getting a ride up the mountain human style, look at those tails go!
Whether you ski or ride, a day on the mountain works up a killer appetite. And it’s not a normal 9-5 appetite, it’s a craving for substantial, delicious, and hearty. You’ve worked (played) hard and you deserve some solid fuel to get those energy levels up to shred some more gnar the next day. We’ve rounded up some of the best food in six of the best ski towns in the world. To meet our stringent criteria for great mountain food, we’ve selected restaurants based on how satisfied your mountain hunger will be and not having to sell an arm and a leg to dine there, lift tickets are expensive enough, right? Unless you cop free lift tickets at any of these 22 resorts in Japan.
Here is our listing of the best ski town food around the globe:
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb needs no introduction. The granddaddy of ski resorts, consistently rated the best, if not one of the best ski and snowboard resorts in the world.
A huge amount of terrain means there is something for every skier and boarder out there, and just about every cuisine under the sun. There is no end of fine dining in Whistler Village, and no end to the amount of money you can spend on said fine dining. From the incredible meat and seafood at Rim Rock Cafe, to hearty fare at Red Door Bistro, and fine dining at the classic Araxi. All phenomenal dining experiences with price tags to match. However, the aforementioned are a little too pricy to make this list. Our pick for the best Mountain food in Whistler is Splitz Grill. Their tagline says it all: “CASUAL PLACE – SERIOUS BURGERS” all caps too, so you know they’re not messing around.
Check it out:
A perfect burger, sitting next to an eggplant, beautiful. Source: Splitz BurgerFresh veggies, crispy bacon, and a perfectly flame grilled all beef patty. Source: Splitz BurgerSplitz Burger’s interior is basic but warm and cozy, just the way a burger joint should be. Source: Splitz Burger
Pro tip: A little bit of Splitz sauce on your burger is indulgent but necessary, and compliments the burger perfectly. Breaded, fried dill pickles are a serious must order at Splitz.
Vail
Vail Colorado is another granddaddy of the North American ski and snowboard scene. With more than 5,200 acres of inbound ski and snowboard terrain, seven miles of backcountry bowls, and the most groomed terrain on the planet, not to mention legendary Colorado Champagne powder, Vail is a force to be reckoned with.
Like Whistler, there is no shortage of high-end restaurants to satiate that Rocky Mountain hunger rumbling in your belly. Sweet Basil offers fine French inspired American dining. Excellent seafood and American fare can be found at La Tour and seasonal, locally sourced haut cuisine is the mainstay of Terra Bistro. But our pick for the best Mountain food in Vail takes it’s name from the mountains it can be found driving around in: Rocky Mountain Taco. This mobile cantina can be found at different locations around Vail based on the what’s poppin’ at what time. Their on-point social media game (@rockymountaintaco) is the best way to find them.
The brainchild of Jose Reza, Chris Mc Ginnis, and Dan Purtell, they serve up delicious, affordable tacos, quesadillas, burritos and tortas (think Mexican sandwich) made fresh from quality ingredients.
Holy Moley. Source: @rockymountaintacoThis looks like heaven on a plate. Source: @rockymountaintacoTaco Tuesday? Taco errrday! Source: @rockymountiantacoWe feel like they should just cruise around and park wherever rainbows end. Source: @rockymountaintaco
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole is big country and big skiing and riding. Steep and deep is the way the locals like JH shredding, and with copious amounts of dry powder and the newly opened Sweetwater gondola there is no shortage of amazing terrain to get your stoke on.
With stoke comes hunger! Jackson Hole fine dining options include the delightfully cute Blue Lion, serving up hearty and healthy dishes. Fantastic wine and delicious Italian fare with a modern twist can be found at Bin 22, and Persephone Bakery servers up phenomenal, honest rustic French food. However with its cozy historic Main Street location and home-cooked food with a Southern accent, Cafe Genevieve is where we’d go to power our next JH runs.
By far the best fried chicken in JK. Source: Cafe GenevieveBig country and thick cut steak. Source: Cafe GenevieveOne of Cafe Genevieve’s signature dishes, their killer Ruben is just what the ski doctor ordered. Source: Cafe GenevieveCafe Genevieve is as charming as its food is delicious. Source: Cafe Genevieve
Niseko
Niseko is what powder dreams are made of. There are few places that get huge amounts of perfect, dry powder that Niseko sees consistently every season. Combine that with amazing backcountry terrain and the old school charm of skiing and riding in Japan and Niseko is a powderhound’s dry dream.
Japan is a land of fine dining. You could walk into a 7-11 and find something that is actually food and genuinely delicious. But after a day of waist-deep powder, we crave something a little more satisfying than convenience store fodder. Wine and Dine Rakuda and Karabina are two excellent izakaya style restaurants. Izakayas are small Japanese pub type establishments, usually small and intimate, which serve up hearty small dishes meant to be eaten with beer or Japanese highballs. Izakayas are awesome social experiences not to be missed while in Japan. But if we had one meal in Niseko we’d head to Bang Bang Restaurant. We’re guessing Pew Pew Pew was taken, or it’s named after how much flavor their food punches. Bang Bang Restaurant serves Yakitori, or Japanese grilled skewers and meats. Bang Bang also serves delicious fresh sashimi.
Perfectly grilled skewers and side dishes await you as Bang Bang Restaurant. Source: Bang Bang Restaurant/Trip AdvisorSource: Bang Bang Restaurant/Trip AdvisorBang Bang also serves up some of the best sashimi in Niseko. Source: Bang Bang Restaurant/Trip AdvisorFresh Fatty Tuna Belly, mmmm…. We’re drooling. Source: Bang Bang Restaurant/Trip AdvisorThe grill masters at Bang Bang Restaurant. Source: Bang Bang Restaurant/Trip AdvisorWatch the masters at work. Source: Bang Bang Restaurant/Trip Advisor
Saas Fee
Saas Fee, Switzerland is the jewel of the European Alps, and is renowned for having both amazing Winter and Spring skiing and riding thanks to the large glacier sitting at its top. Big open bowls and bluebird days are what Saas Fee is all about and represents that picture perfect town in the Alps.
Switzerland is bordered by five European countries each of which has distinct cuisines, and all of which are well suited to an alpine appetite. Some of the best offerings in Saas Fee can be found at Essstube, meat heavy fine Swiss dining, Zur Muhle for Swiss comfort food such as stroganoff, rosti, and fondue, and Steakhouse Saas. But if we wanted to kick back after a long day on the mountain in Saas Fee, we’d head to Du Saas-Fee. I mean, it has Saas Fee in the name. Du Saas Fee specializes Swiss classics such as fondue and raclette (mmmmm, raclette).
Source: Du Saas FeeSource: Du Saas FeeSource: Du Saas FeeSource: Du Saas FeeSource: Du Saas FeeSource: Du Saas Fee
Cerro Catedral
With 38 lifts, 1150 meters of vertical, 2965 acres of shreddable terrain and amazing weather and snow conditions Cerro Catedral is considered one of the best mountain resorts in South America. Located only 22 km from the city of Bariloche, Cerro Catedral is a mecca for Argentineans and international ski tourists alike, serving up bluebird days and Patagonia powder.
If there is one thing that Argentina does well, it’s grill meat, specifically beef. Argentina is home to some of the world’s best steak. Grass fed and free range, Argentines take their beef seriously and La Salamandra Pulperia in Cerro Catedral does steak right. Rincon Patagonico, Butterfly, and Cassis are all great options, but La Salmandra Pulperia can’t be beat for great food and cozy home-like ambiance. Run by a husband and wife team the food is simple, but perfect in its simplicity. Empanadas, steak, and salad, all you need.
Source: La Salamandra PulperiaSource: La Salamandra PulperiaSource: La Salamandra PulperiaSource: La Salamandra PulperiaSource: La Salamandra Pulperia
Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go have a snack.
SnowSports Industries America’s Snow Show wrapped up for another year this past week and the overwhelming buzzword of the show was sustainability. This isn’t surprising, consumers are becoming more and more conscious of how their purchasing decisions affect the world around them. It’s just bad business for companies not to at the very least have a cute little section of their website dedicated to that particular shade of green that lets the world know they recycle. But how many companies truly embrace those twisty bendy green arrows?
The traditional manufacturing of snowboards, skis, surfboards, anything that brings the stoke, is pretty gnarly for the environment. This is ironic as stoke as an industry relies so much on pristine nature to bring in the bucks. Enter Niche Snowboards.
Niche has partnered with The Mothership; one of the world’s most environmentally friendly and sustainable factories and the world’s most environmentally friendly snowboard factory. The facility is 100% river powered by hyrdo-electricity and emits zero CO2 emissions thanks to electric cooling and NH3 natural gas heating. In addition, the factory uses 98% locally sourced materials, reducing transportation emissions and energy used.
100% waste-free snowboards from Niche, available winter 2017/18. Source: Niche Snowboards
For the 2017/18 winter season Niche is releasing 100% waste-free snowboards, reducing their already impressively low manufacturing eco-footprint. A new system developed at The Mothership creates resin from any waste plastic material, allowing 100% recycled hard plastic to be used in their board construction. In addition to being waste-free and featuring a number of other eco-friendly construction techniques, the 17/18 boards incorporate a flax based fiber stringer, allowing for more pop while dampening the vibration and reducing board chatter.
We’re really impressed with Niche Snowboards for putting their money where their mouth is and committing to being eco-friendly and sustainable. We know where our next snowboards are going to be coming from.
If you haven’t seen the cinematic masterpiece that is Ski Schoolthen you need stop whatever it is that you’re doing RIGHT NOW and watch it, seriously, we’ll wait. Ok, got that out of the way? Great. Now, Ski School is clearly the be all end all of films that capture the raw energy and passion of freeskiing. It also showcases the pinnacle of mountain fashion and attitude, and fashion in general that was the year 1991. We just made that sign with our hands that a mustachioed caricature Italian chief would make, you know the pinch your fingers together and kiss them to let the world know “that’sa tastyyyy meataballll” because 1991 was so on point:
Source: Klaus Polzer/Red Bull Content PoolSource: Klaus Polzer/Red Bull Content Pool
But we digress. Redbull (“that’sa tastyyyy energyyy drinkaaa”) decided to take an expanded look at the fashion and skiing styles of five decades of freeskiing in their latest mini documentary Generations of Freeskiing.
Filled to the brim with neon jackets, long tees, and every other awesome fashion fehler (German for mistake, so we’re told) that has hit the slope in the last fifty years, Redbull’s Generations of Freeskiing also features some of the biggest names in modern freeskiing.
Source: Klaus Polzer/Red Bull Content Pool
To name a few, Jon Olsson, Ben Mayr, Lisa Zimmermann, Nick Goepper, Jesper Tjader, all throw down to make the film as awesome as it is entertaining.
Source: Klaus Polzer/Red Bull Content Pool
Generations of Freeskiing can be streamed in full, for free on Red Bull TV. Now if you’ll excuse us we’re going to break out the neon and take back the slope from those pesky snowboarders!
Becoming a pro snowboarder takes hours of riding, hard work, determination, and probably a fair share of pain. Of course being a 16 year old prodigy with a private park in your backyard doesn’t hurt things either.
Amongst the most humble of teen pro athletes out there, Red Gerard’s great attitude and relentless energy makes him one of the most likeable young guns in the game. His family splits their time between Ohio and Colorado and during the winter months call Summit County, Colorado home. Sitting on a beautiful piece of property, the family’s home has a sloped backyard which Red and his brothers immediately flagged for a perfect backyard setup. A rode-to-death 50 cc dirtbike powers a homemade rope tow allowing for endless technical rail hits, and fro Red to perfect his craft for competition riding. In Red’s words “I can come home from snowboarding at the mountain, you know, and just like shred in the back yard” What a dream, but you can’t fault his determination and drive either.
Known primarily as a contest powerhouse (it’s easy to forget he’s only 16), Red’s raw talent will propel him into the freeride and all mountain limelight. He recently was featured in the Transworld film, Insight and we can’t wait to see what he brings to the table in 2017.
Check out the trailer Insight, feature Red, below:
And visit Gogorillasafe.com to learn more about GorillaSafe for free anti-theft protection for your outdoor recreation equipment.
Can’t decide if you want to bomb the mountain or rock out at a music festival? Why not do both? We have you covered, here are five of the world’s best ski and snowboard festivals.
Snowbombing, Mayrhofen, Austria
3rd-8th April, 2017
Snowbombing Canada, Sun Peaks, Canada
6th-10th, April, 2017
Snowbombing is the granddaddy of ski and snowboard festivals. It’s the biggest, baddest and raddest ski and snowboard festival of them all.
Where to start? Located in Mayrhofen, Austria, Snowbombing is as the official tag line goes, a “festival 8,497ft above ordinary.” Featuring some of the world’s best skiing and snowbording and world class musical acts performing in unique venues; igloo raves, enchanted forest parties, underground tennis clubs turned super clubs. If that’s not enough, the charming town of Mayrhofen has luxury spas, authentic alpine cuisine, blue runs, black runs and all the schnapps you can drink.
Mayrhofen, Austria provides amazing skiing and snowboarding and is the host location for Snowbombing 2017. Source: SnowbombingSki and ride all day, party all night at Snowbombing. Source: SnowbombingAn amazing crowd, lineup and venues makes Snowbombing an amazing experience not to be missed. Source: SnowbombingPerformances that rival any major music festival will not leave you disappointed. Source: Snowbombing
New for 2017, Snowbombing is holding a sister event at Sun Peaks in the Canadian rockies, giveing North America it’s own version of this awesome ski and snowboard festival. Dates: 6th-10th, April, 2017
Situated high in the breath-taking Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, Horizon Festival 2017 features outstanding skiing and snowboarding, two mountain top stages with day and night line-ups from 1pm each day, amazing bars, restaurants, clubs, and a hidden secret stage located deep in lush pine forest. What more could you want from a ski and snowboard festival?
Amazing night time performances wow the crowds at Horizon Festival. Source: Horizon FestivalActs which rival an summer music festival are a mainstay at Horizon Festival. Source: Horizon Festival
The ski resort offers a kilometer of vertical and outstanding conditions for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders, alongside stunning mountain tops, villages and valleys.
Sunshine and good times are to be had during the day at the Horizon Festival. Source: Horizon Festival
World Ski And Snowboard Festival, Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
6th-16th, April, 2017
A completely free outdoor and indoor ski, snowboard, music, arts, and everything in-between festival held in Whistler village every April. The World Ski and Snowboard Festival combines everything that makes Whistler great and supersizes it. Ten days and ten nights of spring riding, après, nightlife and culture.
The backdrop of the Canadian Rockies provides an amazing venue for the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Source: WSSFDaily and nightly ski and snowboard competitions featuring some of the best local and international riders thrill the crowds at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Source: WSSF
Whistler Blackcomb needs no introduction. Featuring more terrain than you could ski or ride in a month it is consistently ranked as the World’s best ski and snowboarding destinations. Plenty of Spring Sunshine and friendly Canadians makes the World Ski and Snowboard Festival one not to be missed and fun for all ages.
Free outdoor performances keep the crowd stoked and the good times rolling at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Source: WSSFThe free outdoor daytime concert series at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival brings a great crowd of all ages together for fun and truly family friendly festival. Source: WSSFCanadian spring skiing vibes can’t be beat at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Source: WSSFImpressive indoor performances from world class DJs bring the night to life at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Source: WSSF
An independent ski & snowboard music festival held in Les Deux Alps, Rise combines fantastic alpine skiing and riding with the hottest in electronic music. Epic parties and a focus on human wellbeing and sustainability along with 222km of pistes and the largest skiable glacier in Europe makes Rise a unique ski and snowboard festival experience. The French resort town of Les Deux Alps is located 3000 meters above sea level and offers European charm, fine dining and . Tickets include a lift pass and access to all night and daytime soirees.
For those of you who like to take to the mountain and have fun at the same time (you monsters, who are you?) then check out the Altitude Comedy Festival. Held in the lovely Tyrolean ski resort of Mayrhofen, this unique festival combines fantastic skiing and riding with stand-up comedy. In addition to world class comedy, skiing and snowboarding the Altitude Festival features late night parties, wonderful food, and an overall great atmosphere for young and old.
Source: Altitude FestivalSource: Altitude FestivalSource: Altitude Festival
The 2017 ski and snowboard season has gotten off to a phenomenal start with amazing levels of snowfall from Whistler to Niseko. However with increase snowfall comes increased risks both on and off-piest. Tree wells are often overlooked as potentially life threatening mountain hazards. Less spectacular and visible than avalanches, they are more common and just as dangerous if not more so. As with avalanches a basic understanding of the threats posed and self-rescue and survival techniques can mean the difference between life and death. The threat of tree wells is made even more prominent as they can occur in-bound, in areas where skiers and borders feel otherwise safe and familiar.
What is a tree well? A tree well is formed when snowfall surrounds the base of a tree yet a void is left as branches directly above the tree well keep snow from accumulated around the trunk of the tree. Think of an umbrella keeping the trunk of the tree ‘dry’. The higher the snowpack, the deeper and more dangerous the tree well.
Danger comes when a skier or boarder falls into a tree well, becoming trapped with the impact potentially knocking snow from branches above onto the individual below. Falling headfirst or being buried by falling snow can cause snow-immersion suffocation (SIS).
The highest risk of becoming trapped in a tree well comes after large snowfalls. The best way to avoid becoming trapped in a tree well is to stay clear of trees! Duh! But if you do ski or ride glades remember that all trees pose a tree well threat, even small trees which don’t appear to pose a risk. Small trees can have surprisingly deep, dangerous tree wells which catch skiers and boarders off guard.
What are some tips to avoid tree wells and survive a tree well incident?
Always ski or ride with a buddy. 90% of tree well entrapment tests found that individuals could not self-rescue. Having a friend nearby can mean the difference between life and death.
Maintain visual contact with that friend and others in your group.
If you see someone who has fallen into a tree well do not assume that they can self rescue, stop and provide assistance and if possible flag down ski patrol, time is critical when dealing with tree well entrapment and SIS.
Ski and ride with a whistle that is within easy reach, ideally located as close to your mouth as possible.
If you find yourself trapped in a tree well, what should you do?
Try to prevent yourself from sliding further down into the tree well by any means possible. Grab branches, wedge yourself against the trunk, the further into the tree well you sink the increase level of danger and risk of SIS.
If you are trapped in the tree well, do not struggle. Struggling after you have fallen in will only lead to the risk of snow falling from branches above and burying you further.
Try to make an air pocket around your face and mouth, this small pocket of air can mean the difference between life and death as every minute of air increase the likelihood of surviving long enough to be rescued.
Stay as calm as possible.
Stay as calm as possible.
Stay as calm as possible. Yup three times. Panicking will increase your rate of air consumption and potentially trap you further. Stay calm and yell or blow your whistle to attract attention and rescue.
What should I do if a member of my party falls into a tree well?
If you cannot immediately find your missing person contact ski patrol and direct them towards your friend’s last known location, then being to search for your missing person.
Listen for any noise which may indicate where your friend is located.
If you have an avalanche beacon switch to search mode and use the same techniques you would with a avalanche rescue.
If you find the tree well victim, determine where their head is and tunnel in from the side to provide immediate air and minimize further injury.
An avalanche skill 1 course will provide you with skills necessary for the best methods to tunnel and rescue a trapped individual. Always tunnel directly to the individuals airway and be careful not to knock more snow onto the victim. Expand out the tunnel to the airway until you can pull your partner out.
When the name Travis Rice is attached to a project you know it’s going to have all the money, aerial shots, HUGE lines, and Red Bull that a project possibly could have thrown at it. The name alone elicits that sickly sweet combination of taurine and caffeine (and maybe strawberry?) in my mouth. Needless to say when Rice gets an idea in his head, he has the resources to put it in motion.
What was put in motion was a three year project which followed the hydrological cycle of water and heat around the North Pacific. Ok, cool, got it. Wait, what? Yeah, they snowboarded a lot. AND WENT BIG.
Mark Landvik frolicking through the trees. Photo: Mike Yoshida / Red Bull Content Pool
With fellow snowboard prodigies Mikkel Bang, Shin Biyajima and Ben Ferguson, Rice follows the flow of snow ladened air around the North Pacific in search of the biggest lines, steepest drops and a close call with an Avalanche which left a mountain face bare. Rice emerging humbled by his close call with one of Mother Nature’s most destructive forces is probably the most powerful moment of the film and allows a glimpse into the human that resides inside the superstar that is Travis Rice.
Big country and big lines. Photo: Scott Serfas / Red Bull Content Pool
Overall a spectacular spectacle and feast for the senses, The Fourth Phase raises the bar for cinematic Snowboard films. In the tradition of The Art of Flight, The Fourth Phasemay not be what every snowboarder desires in a film made about the sport, but it can’t be faulted for its vision and sheer awe inspiring grandeur.
